Last week was another tragic week of domestic and family violence. In New South Wales three women were killed, allegedly by men known to them, in three separate incidents on a single day.

According to Australian Femicide Watch, 52 Australian women have lost their lives to violence so far this year.

Each death leaves behind grieving families, friends and communities. And each is a life lost that should not have been.

But something about the public response to these deaths feels lacking.

In previous years, a series of family violence deaths prompted a palpable sense of national grief and anger. In April 2024, thousands marched in mass protests across Australia to demand more government action on gender-based violence.

National Cabinet was urgently convened, and the federal government announced further measures, including the $925 million Leaving Violence Program.

In the past week the response has been much quieter. So much so, that NSW Premier Chris Minns commented that:

this is confronting and incredibly violent, but we can’t become numb to the pain or the violence that we see.

this is confronting and incredibly violent, but we can’t become numb to the pain or the violence that we see.

We have seen the cycle before.

There are reports of another woman killed. There is intense media attention and public anger.

Political leaders promise action. Governments announce reviews, reforms or funding.

Public attention moves onto other issues, as it tends to........

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